(Indian Mallow, Thompson's Flowering Maple)

This is one of the most popular flowering maples in cultivation. It is best known for its green maple-like leaves that are speckled with yellow. This ever-blooming, evergreen shrub is commonly grown as a bedding plant in temperate zones and also boasts lovely hibiscus-like flowers of salmon orange. ‘Thompsonii’ attains a more upright form than the parent species, which hails from Brazil.

This easy to cultivate plant grows best in sites with partial sun and rich, well-drained soil with even moisture....

(Butter and Cheese, Sweet Forest Abutilon)

Abutilon, commonly called flowering maple, embodies approximately 150 species and many more cultivated varieties. These may be annuals, perennials or shrubs and naturally exist in sub-tropical to tropical regions globally. Many perennial species and shrubs are grown as a tender perennial for containers and annual flower beds. Common hybrid forms arise from crosses between the two parent species, Abutilon darwinii and Abutilon pictum.

While growing conditions are favorable abutilons...

(Butter-print, Indian Mallow, Indian-hemp)

Abutilon, commonly called flowering maple, embodies approximately 150 species and many more cultivated varieties. These may be annuals, perennials or shrubs and naturally exist in sub-tropical to tropical regions globally. Many perennial species and shrubs are grown as a tender perennial for containers and annual flower beds. Common hybrid forms arise from crosses between the two parent species, Abutilon darwinii and Abutilon pictum.

While growing conditions are favorable abutilons...

(Drummond's Wattle)

A delightful shade-tolerant acacia for small dryland gardens, this evergreen shrub from Southwest Australia offers delicate foliage and bright blooms. The upright to arching, head-high plants produce fuzzy cylindrical spikes of bright canary-yellow flowers from early to mid-spring. Dainty, pinnately divided, dark green leaves are borne in small tufted clusters along the branches. Pea-like seedpods follow the flowers, maturing to brown.

This frost-tender shrub likes well-drained soil, suffers...

(Dalby Myall, Shoestring Acacia)

Shoestring acacia has proven its amenability to the harsh low desert where it grows as a graceful, wispy accent or shade tree. It is native across most of Australia, which explains its adaptability to a wide range of soil types and harsh climates.

Its very narrow, waxy green leaves are long and dangle, giving this tough, drought-tolerant tree an unusually delicate and graceful appearance. Its spring blooms are small, pea-sized and shaped, cream-colored and borne in drooping clusters. These are...

(Copperleaf, Copperplant, Wilkes' Acalypha)

An evergreen shrub native to the Pacific islands, copperleaf bears brightly colored foliage in shades or red, purple, bronze and green. It is a popular landscape plant in subtropical and tropical zones and planted as a houseplant or annual in cooler zones. The name, Acalypha wilkesiana, honors Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, an American Naval Officer who explored the South Pacific during the mid-1800s.

Beautiful, mottled leaves are the reason copperleaf is so popular in the garden. They...

(Beyond Paradise Acalypha, Copperleaf, Wilkes' Acalypha)

Spectacular bold foliage makes ‘Beyond Paradise’ a must-have for the tropical garden. This Proven Winners'selection sports large leaves mottled with rich copper, olive, rose and dark green.

An evergreen shrub native to the Pacific islands, copperleaf bears bright foliage in many mixed colors. It is a popular landscape plant in subtropical and tropical zones and planted as a houseplant or annual in cooler zones. The name, Acalypha wilkesiana, honors Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, an American...

(Copperleaf, Copperplant, Java White Copperleaf, Wilkes' Acalypha)

The festive copperleaf, 'Java White', has greenish yellow to ivory green leaves mottled with irregular splotches of green. An evergreen shrub native to the Pacific islands, copperleaf bears bright foliage in many mixed colors. It is a popular landscape plant in subtropical and tropical zones and planted as a houseplant or annual in cooler zones. The name, Acalypha wilkesiana, honors Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, an American Naval Officer who explored the South Pacific during the mid-1800s.

Beautiful,...

(Dwarf Hedge Maple)

Hedge maple is a small and adaptable deciduous tree from Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. The cultivar 'Nanum' forms a globular shrub of about a third the typical height, and its three-lobed leaves are smaller and paler. The leaves often have red-tinted margins in spring. The foliage turns an attractive golden yellow in autumn, before changing finally to brown. It sometimes persists on the stem into winter. The bright yellow-green flowers are sparsely if at all produced and result in few...

(Oregon Vine Maple, Vine Maple)

Oregon vine maple is a small, clump forming, deciduous tree native to northwestern North America. In spring, it bears small drooping clusters of attractive white and purple flowers, followed by winged reddish-green fruits. The pretty fan-shaped leaves of medium green emerge from crimson buds in spring and turn brilliant scarlet-orange to red in the fall. The green bark provides winter interest.

This maple prefers partial shade, shelter from high winds, and moist, well-drained soil. It makes a...